One never knew when they would have to make a quick escape. While getting out of the hovercar at the house, Nyla couldn’t believe the size of it. She knew that civilians didn’t live in tent barracks, but she had never been to one of the grand estates.
Edmond is Governor, Nyla reminded herself. And the Governor was just another word for President here.
“There’s plenty of space for you, don’t you worry,” Veronica said, starting up the wide white stone steps that led to the front door. “Come, come,” she gestured Nyla forward.
Hesitantly, Nyla placed her foot on the first stone step. She half expected to leave a dirty shadow of her shoe on the creamy surface. Accustomed to the trials of war, she was comfortable going days without bathing and often ended up leaving handprints on anything she touched. Relived when the bottom of her shoe left no mark, Nyla hurried up the rest of the steps and through the door that was being held open by a butler whom had a stoic look on his face.
Crossing the threshold into an echoing entryway, the opulence of the space blinded Nyla momentarily. She wasn’t sure if the chandelier illuminating the area was made of crystals or glittering diamonds, but she was in awe. The polished hardwood floors shone like bronze, mirroring the light fixture above in its depth. Never in a million years had a civilian permitted a Menhit into a place such as this.
I guess the laws really did change, although I don’t understand how, she thought.
“Dear?” Veronica called, waiting for Nyla in the hallway. Edmond had already gone ahead. Pulling her eyes away from her surroundings, Nyla followed Veronica. They passed six doorways on each side. Large family pictures hung on the wall. Edmond and Veronica posed with two children who grew older as she walked along. They looked odd, and Nyla realized that it was because the photos were in the old style; they didn’t move. The hallway ended, dumping them into an occupied family room. Edmond stood by the couches where two figures relaxed.
Nyla took in the closest teenager. They seemed to be about the same age, the girl maybe a year or two younger. Nyla admired her symmetrical features. Her almond eyes and dark irises were turned down looking at the holopad in her hands that projected a dancing figure into the air. Her long black hair, the same color as her parents, was pulled into a high ponytail which stretched her angled features into sharp relief. The other figure was lying down on the couch with his back turned to the new entries.
“Mason, Eason, please welcome our guest,” Veronica announced to the room. No one moved.
“Mason,” Veronica crossly rapped her daughter on the head.
“What?” Mason snapped, raising her eyes to her mother. They then slid past her parents and rested on Nyla. “Oh. It’s here.”
“Yes, she is here,” Edmond repeated, glaring at his daughter. “Now introduce yourself.”
Mason rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. “I’m Mason. And you are?” Her gaze swept over Nyla. Her nose wrinkled when she got to Nyla’s exposed hands.
“Nyla.”
“Humph.” Mason turned back to her holopad.
“Eason,” Veronica called out to the boy on the couch. He didn’t move.
Looking up from his phone, Edmond walked over and rapped him sharply on the shoulder. “Eason, your mother is speaking to you.”
Groggily, the boy raised his head and rolled off the couch. He stood and stretched before his father. “What’s going on?” he yawned.
“Nyla has arrived.”
Eason turned towards Nyla and their gazes met. Nyla froze. There was something striking about the boy. He was taller than Nyla, and his dark brown hair was almost shaggy. It was still sticking up at the back from his nap. His chocolate-colored eyes peered at her curiously. Eason nodded, and Nyla dipped her chin in response.
“We have more to discuss,” Edmond intoned, looking around at the group. “But we’ll do that over dinner. Eason, take Nyla up to her room. She probably wants some time to herself after all these changes.”
“Alright,” Eason groaned as he stretched his back again. He pulled his shirt down over his flat stomach and walked around the couch. “Follow me.” Nyla fell into step behind him. They walked up to the second-floor landing and went all the way down to the last door on the right. “Here you go. Mason and I sleep at the other end of the hall. My parents thought it would be nice for you to have some privacy.”
Nyla nodded and stepped into the room. Its walls were a blank beige, and only a four-poster bed and a desk occupied the space. “Thank you.”
Leaning on the doorframe, Eason ran his hand through his hair which left it even more wild. “I know it looks rough now, but mom said that you can decorate it however you want.”
“This is fine,” Nyla said, sitting down on the edge of the bed tentatively. “I’ve never had one of these before.”
“A four-poster?” Eason asked, eyeing the bed. “It’s alright, I guess.”
“No, a room. I’ve always bunked in the same tent as the Major, or his second-in-command if the Major had to leave.”
Eason stared at her with wide eyes. “You’ve never had a room?”
Nyla shook her head. “I’m a weapon, I had to be with my handler. And the Major was on active duty. We were always on the base.” She watched Eason straighten at her words.
“You aren’t a threat to us, right?” he quizzed her.
“No. I do not harm civilians, and I was given direct commands to integrate.”
“That’s a relief, I think. Well, I’m going to leave and let you have some time to yourself.” Eason excused himself.
Nyla stared at the empty doorway. Should she close it? In the military she’d never been allowed to close doors or tent flaps. Did she dare?
Sitting on the softest bed she’d ever touched, she decided she didn’t. Instead, she took off her shoes and reclined back, letting herself be absorbed into the plush mattress. Her thoughts drifted back to the Major.
He’s dead, she told herself. He’s gone. You’re alone now.
Someone using her name downstairs roused Nyla from her nap. Even with her ring on, Nyla could clearly hear the discussion in the family room.“Mason, go get Nyla for dinner,” Edmond barked at his daughter. There was no rustle of movement. “Now,” he hissed, his tone frigid with displeasure.“Why do I have to?” Mason whined.Edmond sighed. “Because I told you to. Until you are eighteen, you will do as I say.”Mason snorted in disgust. “You’re so old fashioned, Dad. It’s not like that anymore in the real world. Imagine what the voters would think if they knew that you run your house like a prison.”“Mason,” Veronica warned. “Do what your father says.”“Why? I don’t want to be around It.”“For the last time,” Edmond growled. “Nyla is not an ‘it’, even if she’s a Menhit.”“
“My problem,” Edmond boomed, “is that you are treating our guest like scum on the bottom of your shoe! An inanimate object you can abuse as you will!”Mason laughed. “You’re kidding me, right? She might as well be an inanimate object, Dad. I mean, look at her. Her face hasn’t changed once, not even when the soup hit her. She’s just a breathing doll. And you saw how she caught that bowl, she moved so fast that you couldn’t even see her hands! She’s a freak.”Nyla unconsciously reached up to her face and felt her mouth. It was relaxed, different from the tightly pressed lips all around her. She knew that her face was different – it was part of being a Menhit. Emotions were a foreign concept she didn’t understand and couldn’t display. “It’s okay,” Nyla cut in. “I know I’m different. Mason is just pointing out the obvious.”The room froze, and Nyla
“Well, don’t you look nice!” Veronica squealed, fluttering around Nyla. The pair stood before the new smart mirror hanging over Nyla’s closet door, inspecting her appearance.After dinner the night before, Veronica had brought bag after bag of clothing into Nyla’s room. As she unpacked each item, she explained why she had picked it out for Nyla. Most of the reasons had to do with Nyla’s blonde hair, which was so different than Veronica’s curtain of ebony.She had arrived at Nyla’s door at six that morning insisting that Nyla needed help getting ready. When called upon to pick her outfit for the day, Nyla settled on a plain long sleeve top in a color Veronica called ‘sea-green’ and a pair of jeans. It would hide the lingering burns on her arm from the night before. “So simple, yet they look so stylish on you because of your tall frame! I’m so happy they fit!” Veronica admired loudly. “I
“So recently! And you’re already in school! Come, sit by me and tell me all about your adventures, like how you got to live with the Brauns.”Before Nyla could reply, Eason reached behind him and grabbed her gloved hand to keep her from moving. Sarah noticed the gesture, and her eyebrows rose. “No,” he said icily, “Nyla is sitting next to me.” Without saying goodbye, Eason dragged Nyla over to two empty desks in the corner, and motioned for her to sit down. The boy sitting in front of Eason smiled and waved before turning back to the worksheet he was hastily finishing on his holopad.“Is there a problem with Sarah?” Nyla asked, eyeing Eason critically. The interaction with the girl didn’t make sense. She hadn’t asked anything inappropriate, as far as Nyla was aware.Eason sighed. “Just stay away from Sarah. She’s not someone you want to get involved with.”“Okay,&rdq
The next day followed the same pattern as the day before, except for the bathroom incident. After emerging from a stall, Nyla found her path blocked by Sarah. Her hawk nose was scrunched like she smelt something terrible.“Nyla,” Sarah purred. She gave Nyla a once over, and stopped on the gloves she wore. “What are the odds of us seeing each other here?”“Statistically likely, actually,” Nyla automatically responded.Sarah blinked twice, seemingly lost for words.Nyla stepped around the girl and headed for the sink.“You’re the only girl I’ve ever seen Eason be around. He doesn’t even spend time with his sister.” Sarah said while following her.“He’s my host family,” Nyla responded.Sarah stared at Nyla in the mirror. “That’s not it. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m going to find out. There’s something… d
Breanne chewed thoughtfully. “I can’t do anything that would upset anyone here because my future and my family’s future depends on it. If I make someone mad, their family can wipe mine from existence.”Nyla thought about all of the powerful students here. She had the Governor’s protection, but Breanne had no one.“And it doesn’t help that I’m painfully shy,” Breanne added while putting down her sandwich.Nyla squinted at Breanne, sizing her up. “You don’t seem shy to me.” Unless Nyla didn’t actually know what shy meant.Shaking her head, Breanne explained, “Not with you, Nyla. I knew when I first saw you that we were the same: outcasts.”“How?” Nyla asked. Was there something about her that made her stand out?Breanne blushed to the roots of her out of control hair. “I don’t know. It’s just, well, we both look different. We
The first weekend posed a dilemma for Nyla. She didn’t know what to do with herself. All the Brauns seemed to be busy with one thing or another, and Nyla wanted to stay out of their way. The best she could do was keep to herself in her room. At a loss as to how to occupy the endless hours, she spent all of Saturday lying on her bedroom floor, gazing up at the ceiling. Her head felt hollow, the same way her chest did – as if someone had taken a dull spoon and scraped out all her insides.That first night in the house, she had quickly realized the bed was too soft, too foreign to lay on comfortably. The cots she had slept on all her life were hard, the thin mattresses doing little to cushion the metal bars that ran through their centers. After tossing and turning for several hours, she had grabbed the flattest pillow and lightest blanket and laid out on the floor. The plush carpet cushioned her just enough to keep her hips from aching. Once comfortable, she had fall
Eason’s soft words came as a shock to her. She had expected a definition – she knew all the definitions for the different emotions. The Major had taught them to her, although they had never meant anything to her. Thinking of the Major brought a sharp memory to focus. Nyla gasped.“What is it?” Eason asked.Keeping her eyes squeezed shut, Nyla stepped back in time. “There’s a moment – I think I know what you’re talking about.“Well, tell me about it,” Eason directed softly, his tone still light. Nyla could hear him move closer.“I was younger, much younger. It must have been right after I joined the military. The Major had been gone for several days, and Sergeant Ryan had told me to stay in my tent until he returned. Early one morning, the Major walked back in, back before he was supposed to be. The moment my eyes landed on him, I felt like everything was right in the world again, as if the